Sports
Super Eagles to play under VAR scrutiny in 2026 World Cup Playoffs
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be used during the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs scheduled for later this month.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will continue their quest for a World Cup ticket when they face Gabon in the playoff semi-final on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The Super Eagles finished second in Group C but qualified for the playoffs as one of the best second-placed teams.
They will join Gabon, DR Congo, and Cameroon in the four-team playoff tournament, with the winner between Nigeria and Gabon set to play the victor of the DR Congo versus Cameroon match.
CAF’s decision to introduce VAR for the playoffs marks a major shift, as the technology was not used during the main qualification rounds.
The inclusion of VAR could be pivotal for Nigeria, as match officials will now be able to review key decisions.
For instance, Calvin Bassey’s controversial goal against South Africa in the qualifiers might have been disallowed for handball if VAR had been available.
At the same time, Nigeria have suffered from poor officiating in recent fixtures, such as when Victor Osimhen sustained an injury against Rwanda in August, a foul that went unpunished.
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The Super Eagles will now hope that the introduction of VAR ensures fair play rather than hinders their efforts as they battle for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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